NTB creates new logo, charts new future
Nations Trust Bank unveiled its new brand identity earlier this week as part of a strategic plan that would lead to enhanced growth and profitability in coming years.

The new identity represents the core values of flexibility, simplicity, of being responsive and innovative - all of which are values espoused by the organization in delivering a higher level of service to customers.

The logo further symbolizes this process of engagement as it proceeds with asymmetrical motion towards its conclusion. In its non-linearity, it is a dynamic and living mark—almost a physical reminder of how the Bank can touch the lives of our customers in a genuine, meaningful, manner.

Officials said the unveiling of the new brand comes at a time when the Bank is aiming to provide new services and level of convenience for its customers.

Air tickets, prizes galore at Douglas' grand bash

Some 235 air tickets and package tours to destinations like Indonesia, Dubai, Malaysia and Singapore were on offer to more than 390 dealers of tyres marketed by Douglas & Sons at the company's glittering annual Dealer Convention held last week.

The event is the highlight every year in the company calendar where these dealers are also given other fabulous prizes for making the GT Tyres, the largest selling imported tyre in Sri Lanka, according to a company statement. Douglas & Sons are the sole agents of these Indonesia-made tyres.

After winning an exciting all-expenses paid holiday package to Indonesia, one of the agents - Gemunu Gunawardana of Universal Tyre Service, Colombo said, "It's a privilege and pleasure to be a part of this network, not just because of the prizes we get at ceremonies like these, but mostly because the company has such a sincere commitment to its market philosophy and such inspiring business acumen."

Colombo Magistrate rejects AG’s directive in computer virus case

The Attorney General’s directive to discharge two suspects in a rare computer virus case has been rejected by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne when the case was taken up for hearing recently.

The Magistrate also granted leave to proceed with the summary trial in line with the law. He upheld the objection raised by the counsel for complainants, the Global Trans World Relocation company, who were challenging a directive issued by the Attorney General’s Department to discharge the accused without trial by terminating the proceedings. The Magistrate issued this order considering an application made by Counsel Jeevantha Jayathilake, who watched the interest of the aggrieved party.

Suspects Suresh Marcellus and Rohitha Silva, the Managing Director and an employee of Tran’s World Movers, currently on bail have been charged with encoding (transmitting) a virus to the computer of Global Trans World Relocation of Modera by an e-mail with the intention of destroying the system and decoding the computer.

The Modera Police and the IT division of Police Headquarters conducted investigations. An expert report has also been obtained from the IT Department of the Colombo University. The charges were framed against the accused under Section 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Hong Kong wages for housemaids increased
Sri Lankan housemaids with new contracts moving into Hong Kong will be entitled to a $100 per month (Hong Kong dollars) wage hike effective from July 10, the authorities there have announced.

This information was conveyed to the Sri Lanka media by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing which also oversees Hong Kong through the Sri Lankan Consulate there.

Sri Lanka has 1,365 registered housemaids among a total 250,000 in Hong Kong who earn a minimum Rs 50,000 monthly salary (HK $ 3,480 per month), but the increase wage is applicable to contracts signed after July 10.

Cinnamon Grand 16-km walk for Cancer
The Cinnamon Grand, through its charity, ‘Spread a Little Sunshine’, is undertaking a 16-km walk to help cancer patients, billed as the longest walk by a local institution to raise funds for a cause.
The July 17 walk will take participants from the hotel premises at Kollupitiya to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital commencing at 6 am, aimed at raising Rs 1.8 million for a theatre lamp for the hospital, the hotel said.

It said 400 Associates of Team Cinnamon Grand led by General Manager Rohan Karr and the management will walk to raise the required money while distributing educational material on the detection, treatment and prevention of cancer. At the conclusion of the walk expected to take about three hours, the cheque for Rs 1.8 million will be presented to the Director of the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, Dr Kanishka Karunaratne at the hospital premises. “Our aim, through this walk is to reach out to the public.

The theatre lamp will undoubtedly help the cancer afflicted community and will aid in taking up more cases for surgery. This is another way for us to show our community that we care,” Mr Karr said. For the walk, funds were collected on a privately circulated card system among the Associates, who requested donations from family and friends. Each Associate aimed to collect a minimum of Rs 5,000 each.
The Cinnamon Grand charity has worked primarily on the CSR platforms of education, health and environment.

CEPA to be signed during SAARC Summit
The Indo-Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been finalized and will be signed on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit in Colombo later this month, a top Indian official said this week in Colombo. The CEPA will be implemented next year.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is attending the Colombo parley. Indian Commerce Secretary Gopal K. Pillai told a packed audience of top level businessmen, scholars and, public and private sector officials at a seminar on ‘CEPA Opportunities and Challenges’ that Sri Lanka should take advantage of obtaining Indian expertise to upgrade the service sector.

During the negotiations to finalise CEPA the Indian side agreed to grant more concessions on the exports of apparel to India. The CEPA has provision to increase the Sri Lankan apparel exports to eight million pieces and out of this six million pieces will be exempt from duty.

According to the finalized draft of CEPA, 114 items will be removed from the Indian negative list while Sri Lanka has agreed to remove 32 items from its negative list.